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Are you thinking of switching to another mobile carrier? You might have been told that you need to “unlock” your phone first. This guide will explain what unlocked phones are, why they are locked, and how to unlock them.

Locked vs Unlocked Smartphone

When you purchase a smartphone in North America, it is going to be likely “locked” to a mobile carrier. This means that you can only use that smartphone for that specific carrier’s network. Before you can switch to another carrier, the phone has to be “unlocked” first. Phone unlocking is different from jailbreaking and rooting, which involves removing the software restrictions imposed by iOS and Android.

Locked smartphones can only work on its carrier’s network. For example, you bought an iPhone from AT&T on contract. Your iPhone will only accept an AT&T SIM card and function on AT&T’s network. So if you insert a T-Mobile SIM card into it, the iPhone will reject the T-Mobile SIM card and the phone won’t function.

Having a locked phone can get in the way if you travel to another country because you will have to pay additional fees per minute every time you call or use data. You won’t be able to use a local SIM card in the country you’re visiting because your locked phone will reject it.

Why Are Smartphones Locked?

High-end smartphones like the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are very expensive – at least $649 and $749 respectively. Mobile carriers make these phones more attractive to customers by bringing down their prices in exchange for a two-year contract. They subsidize a big portion of the purchase price so you end up paying only a fraction of the cost.

The contract ensures that customers will stay with the carrier until it is able to recoup its subsidy over the course of the contract. That’s why there is such a thing as an ETF or Early Termination Fee if you end the contract before it expires.

What Are the Benefits of an Unlocked Smartphone?

1. You don’t have to stick to your mobile carrier. There are many reasons why people want to switch: bad network, expensive monthly fees, better offers by the competition, etc. When you unlock your phone, you can switch effortlessly between carriers. You’ll be free to choose the best carrier and plan to suit your specific needs.
2. You’ll get better coverage. GSM devices (phones with SIM card slots) that are unlocked can be used anywhere in the world as long as you purchase a local SIM card. You won’t have to worry about expensive roaming fees and loss of coverage because you can easily switch SIM cards wherever you are.
3. You can save money in the long run. You have to shell out money to unlock your phone but it is going to be worth it in the end. You won’t have to pay a subscription fee and you are free to switch to another carrier if you want to change your current plan.
4. You can customize your phone any way you want. Locked smartphones have pre-installed applications and settings by their mobile carrier. With an unlocked phone, you can change the settings however you want and you won’t be limited by a software lock.
5. You won’t have to worry about losing your phone. Yes, it is a pain to lose your phone but it’s more painful if it is still under contract. Early termination fees (ETFs) are expensive, plus you have to shell out more money to buy a new phone. With an unlocked phone, you just need to buy another phone (without that extra ETF burden on your shoulders).
6. You can sell an unlocked phone more easily. With all the benefits that come with an unlocked phone, you can ask for a higher resale price for it. You can also sell the unlocked phone even outside the United States because the phone can accept any SIM card.

How Do You Unlock a Smartphone?

You can go different routes if you want to unlock your phone.

1. Call your mobile carrier. Some mobile carriers will unlock your phone for you once your contract has expired or as long as you’ve paid off anything you owe on the phone. There may be an unlocking fee but it is still worth a shot.
2. Unlock it yourself. Phone unlocking is now legal in the US, so you won’t have to worry about breaking the law. Just do a web search and you will be able to find instructions on how to unlock your phone.
3. Have your phone unlocked by iCare Phone Repair. All iCare locations offer unlocking services on major smartphone brands and carriers. The unlocking process may take different turnaround times, from 12 hours to 7 business days, depending on how old the phone model is and the carrier. You can call any of our locations to find out more about unlocking your phone.

Smartphone malware has started to be increasingly prevalent, and it has become more necessary for users to be aware of how to protect their devices. The more information we store on our phones, the more reason to ensure that we protect our devices because the consequences of such loss become more significant.

But let’s face it. Users are generally careless about the latest malware and how to find out if their devices have been attacked. Take note that there are threats that are able to hide unnoticed from users’ devices. By the time the victim learns about it, the device has already been attacked – your passwords, contact information, private photos and files may have already been compromised.

There are many ways for malware to conceal itself, but once it kicks into action, you will notice signs of illegitimate activity that you should pay attention to.

Signs that your mobile device has been infected by a malware attack

Sign #1. The system or apps start behaving irregularly.

If you have apps that have suddenly failed to work even though they used to work just fine, there might have been a malware attack. Signs of strange activities are the sudden closing of the app or displaying of various error messages. This means a malicious code is running in the background and interfering with the normal processes.

When malware has taken over an app, it can take illegally access the permissions that have been previously granted to the app and run commands with administrator permissions. These attacks can be noticed by the user if it happens to him.

Other signs of malware activity: the battery goes empty faster than usual, your calls and messages do not reach their destination, and other overuses of the device’s resources.

What you should do: Know the app before you install them on your phone and download it from official sources, such as the Apple Store or Google Play Store. Check all the apps installed on your phone and know if something is not supposed to be there; maybe you didn’t authorize it in the first place. Check the app permissions and see to it that it is not charging you for online purchases that you didn’t make.

When installing and running apps, be careful with the permissions that you grant especially if it asks for administrator permissions. You may end up unable to uninstall the app through the system settings.

(See also: App Store Hack: WeChat and Other Apps Infected with Malware)

Sign #2. Your call and SMS logs include unknown numbers.

These unknown numbers may be international numbers that the malware is calling or sending messages to at your own expense. WeLiveSecurity.com identifies this type of malware under the Android/TrojanSMS family, which has been growing exponentially – about 50 new examples are detected every month and no signs of decreasing in the near future.

What you should do: Always check your call and SMS history so these unknown numbers won’t be running up your bill undetected. Don’t download from unofficial sources and be careful of the permissions you grant when installing apps.

Sign #3. Data usage has increased much greater than normal.

If you notice an excessive amount of data exchange even when you don’t use the device, there is a good chance of the presence of malware in the device. Malicious apps take advantage of your available data plan to exchange information with command and control centers operated by cybercriminals.

What you should do: Find out how much data your device has been devouring. For iPhones, tap on “Cellular”, then scroll down to “Cellular Data Usage”. For Android phones, swipe down from the top of the screen to bring up the notification shade. Tap on the top right corner gear icon, and then the “Data usage” icon.

(See also: KeyRaider Malware Affects Jailbroken Apple Devices)

Sign #4. The device sends and receives strange text messages.

Cybercriminals infect mobile devices by sending text messages that contain commands to be interpreted by the malware, which then takes the corresponding action. Lots of malware are able to delete such messages so they go unnoticed by the user.

The phone numbers in your contact list may also receive these test messages, and the recipient may unknowingly download the malicious content when they click the links.

What you should do: If you see these strange text messages, don’t just ignore them. Your device has a malicious app that has to be safely removed. If you receive a text message asking you to click a link, use common sense and don’t do it. And immediately inform the sender of this malware.

(See also: One Simple Text Can Hack 950 Million Android Devices)

Sign #5. You are getting charged for actions you did not make.

As mentioned above, there are malicious apps that make calls, send text messages, or use data without your knowledge. You’re in for a surprise when these show up on your phone bill. Your credit card data saved in your apps may also get stolen and used to make online purchases.

What you should do: It’s a must to identify malicious activity as early as possible so you can control these unwarranted charges before they pile up. If you can install a trustworthy security solution to scan our device, the better. They can identify if there’s a real threat in your device and they can also provide solutions to remove the treat.

Also, it is best to change your passwords immediately to bar any more entries from the malware if you suspect that sensitive information from your device has been compromised.

How to protect your device from malware attacks

Mobile technology should not be feared, and you should be able to enjoy the significant developments that it brings. But at the same time, you have to take a proactive and preventive approach to keep your data secure at all times.

1. Update your device’s operating system and apps to the latest versions.
2. Back up your data regularly.
3. Download apps from official stores only, such as the Apple Store and the Google Play Store, to greatly reduce the chances of getting infected by malware.
4. Use a screen lock and use a password or pattern that is hard to guess.
5. Encrypt the content on your device.
6. Avoid rooting or jailbreaking your device.
7. Use security solutions from a trusted company.

After spending hundreds of dollars on a new smartphone, you don’t want to end up staring at a scratched screen all the time. These scratches are annoying to see on the display screen, and you can never get rid of them. Smartphones are fragile and always prone to gashes, but you can help prevent these from happening by using screen protectors.

An extra layer of defense provides easy protection on your smartphone’s glass screen. With low-cost screen protectors, you can take better care of your valued smartphone without breaking the bank. But there are many different types of screen protectors in the market so you need to find one that best suits your needs and budget. Here are a few types of smartphone screen protectors:

PET Film Screen Protector

PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate, which is a type of plastic. PETs are great screen protectors because of its scratch-resistant coating and very affordable pricing — they usually come in packs of three. It has a silicone adhesive that makes it easy to put on your smartphone, but of course, it’s better to have an iCare technician do it for you.

PETs are not a perfect solution, though. It doesn’t have a glassy texture and discolors easily due to the sun rays and oil build-up from our fingers. (TIP: iCare technicians will give you a free PET if you like us on Facebook!)

TPU Screen Protector

TPU stands for thermoplastic polyreuthane, which is chemically enhanced plastic that makes it even more tough and durable. Unlike PETs, TPU screen protectors are oil- and grease-resistant and will definitely protect your phone display screen from scratches. It’s made of military-grade material used to protect jet fighters. It’s also very elastic and can absorb impact from pressing heavily on the screen or small drops.

TPUs are better and more expensive than PETs but they still can’t handle extreme conditions like long drops. It’s a great screen protector but it’s not the best.

Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Speaking of the best screen protector in the market today, that will be the multi-layered tempered glass. It has shock-absorbent silicon on the bottom and a PET film, sandwiched by tempered glass and olephobic coating using a clear adhesive. It might sound like a thick glass but it’s not, and is only less than 0.4 mm thick. Application is easy enough but it is better to have an iCare technician do it for you.

Having a tempered glass screen protector can potentially save your phone’s screen from more serious damages. The tempered glass will break into small pieces first before it gets through your phone. So that’s a great additional protective layer on your expensive smartphone.

iCare Phone Repair carries tempered glass screen protectors for smartphones for only $19.99. It’s slightly more expensive than the other types of screen protectors but it’s the best protection that you can find in the market today. Plus, $19.99 is still cheaper than a hundred dollars’ worth of screen replacement. So visit any of our locations today and we’ll apply the tempered glass for you for free!

We’ve been hearing a lot about the “1970 Date” bug that will brick (or shut down permanently) modern Apple devices. There are a lot of videos that show how to do it — basically you have to manually set the date back to January 1, 1970.  Adjusting the calendar back this far can prevent the iPhone, iPad, or iPod from turning on after a restart. So if you are an owner of a 64-bit iOS device, such as the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, iPad Mini 2, and newer, you shouldn’t be trying this out.

Well, apparently, a lot of users are getting pranked on Facebook because Apple Care has been flooded with people bringing in their devices after trying out this bug. To address the problem, Apple will release a software update but it’s not sure if it’s going to be in the iOS 9.3 (expected in March with a host of new features). Or maybe they will push for an earlier OTA bug-fix release to resolve this bug.

Stay tuned for that but for now, if you have been curious enough to have bricked your iPhone, don’t worry because there’s still a solution for it.

(See Also: 5 Signs to Find Out If Your Phone Has Malware)

How to Fix the Apple “1970 Date” Bug

Luckily, it is easy to fix this bricking bug —  just disconnect the battery from the device. By cutting off the power to the phone and then reconnecting the battery, the iPhone will be forced to reset the date and your phone will finally boot up again.

Removing the battery will need special tools because Apple uses special screws in its products; a standard screwdriver won’t work. You’ll need a special pentalobe screwdriver that has the proper size for iPhone’s screws. You can order this driver online but if you can’t wait that long to use your iPhone again, just bring it over to any iCare Phone Repair location and we’ll fix it for you!

If you’d rather DIY, be careful and take it slow so you won’t cause more damage to your iPhone! Good luck!

BAY CITY, Mich. – Sep 12, 2016 — iCare Repair delivers same-day repair of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. The Michigan-based tech repair company specializes in repairing cracked screens, water damage, camera issues, and other software and hardware problems. Its newest corporate store, iCare Repair Bay City, opened August 22 at 3760 Wilder Road, making it the 11th iCare store since the company’s inception in 2012.

Daniel Peabody, iCare’s founder, responded “iCare Repair is really excited that we are coming to the Tri-Cities! We are now open in Saginaw and Bay City and will soon be open in Midland. We are quickly approaching our four year anniversary and very excited to announce that we will have our 13th location opened by the end of this year. We are also excited to announce that our franchise program is already seeing great success. Our franchisees are excited and are opening up multiple locations. iCare Repair is becoming a trusted household name in electronic repair. That’s easy to understand with our bend over backwards customer service.”

iCare Repair’s newest corporate store is located in Bay City. It is located near the Bay City Mall in a convenient location to provide residents of the community quality service at an affordable price.

“We noticed there were not repair shops in the tri-city area. We had individuals contact us from the area to inquire about repairs. It was a great opportunity for us to secure the phone and tablet repair market of Saginaw and Bay City,” said Regional Manager Brandon Mistry.

iCare Repair of Bay City is located at 3760 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706. For more information on our repair services and price quotes, call (989) 327-1966 or send a message on its Facebook page.

You can also follow this link to learn more about iCare Repair: icarerepair.com. If you’re interested in opening an iCare store in your area, request more information about franchising.

SAGINAW, Mich. – Sep 6, 2016 — iCare Repair delivers same-day repair of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. The Michigan-based tech repair company specializes in repairing cracked screens, water damage, camera issues, and other software and hardware problems. Its newest corporate store, iCare Repair Fashion Square Mall, opened July 30 at 4787 Fashion Square Mall, Suite 410, making it the 10th iCare store since the company’s inception in 2012.

Daniel Peabody, iCare’s founder, responded “iCare Repair is really excited that we are coming to the Tri-Cities! We are now open in Saginaw and Bay City and will soon be open in Midland. We are quickly approaching our four year anniversary and very excited to announce that we will have our 13th location opened by the end of this year. We are also excited to announce that our franchise program is already seeing great success. Our franchisees are excited and are opening up multiple locations. iCare Repair is becoming a trusted household name in electronic repair. That’s easy to understand with our bend over backwards customer service.”

iCare Repair’s newest corporate store is located in Saginaw in Fashion Square Mall. It is located near Saginaw Valley State University to provide students and residents of the community quality service at an affordable prices.

“We noticed there were not repair shops in the tri-city area. We had individuals contact us from the area to inquire about repairs. It was a great opportunity for us to secure the phone and tablet repair market of Saginaw and Bay City,” said Regional Manager Brandon Mistry.

iCare Repair of Saginaw is located at 4787 Fashion Square Mall, Suite 410, Saginaw, MI 48604. For more information on our repair services and price quotes, call (989) 327-1966 or send a message on its Facebook page.

You can also follow this link to learn more about iCare Repair: icarerepair.com. If you’re interested in opening an iCare store in your area, request more information about franchising.

OKEMOS, Mich., July 6, 2016 – iCare Repair opened in Mount Pleasant near the Central Michigan University campus on Tuesday, July 5 at 2304 South Mission Street. The fast-growing mobile device repair company provides effective, same-day repair service of smartphones, tablets, mp3 players, and laptops. From broken screens and water damage to camera issues and defective batteries, iCare Repair can fix most technical problems at its 12 stores in Michigan and Washington.

iCare Repair Mount Pleasant is owned and operated by Jim and Patty Barnard. Besides being a franchise owner, Jim is an insurance agent and the former CFO of a manufacturing company. He was awarded the NFIB Small Business Person of the Year in Michigan in 2004. His wife, Patty, is a Civil Department Assistant at an AE consulting firm in Lansing. They are looking forward to applying their sales, marketing, and business skills and experience in an entrepreneurial setting.

“We want to be the number one source for tech repair services in the Mount Pleasant community,” Jim said. “Our goal is to serve the college students and young and old mobile device owners with great service at affordable prices.”

iCare Repair was founded in 2012 by Dan Peabody, who came up with the idea from a friendly challenge from his best friend and franchise owner, Dustin Colthorp. Understanding the importance of mobile devices in our personal and professional lives, Dan built the company with a strong customer service principle combined with a professional and technical skillset.

“We believe in a ‘bend over backwards’ customer service, and this has helped us grow this fast and successfully in just four years,” said founder of iCare Repair, Dan Peabody. “With our continued growth in Michigan and expansion into Mount Pleasant, we hope to become the household name in mobile device repair in the state and beyond.”

With iCare Repair’s fast turnaround time and top-quality replacement parts, customers are always assured that their mobile devices will be returned to them in great condition. Smartphones, tablets, mp3 players, and laptops are its specialties, but they have the ability to fix any electronic device. Repairs come with a lifetime warranty on the parts and workmanship. iCare Repair expects to have 20 stores in Michigan and the surrounding states by the end of 2017.

iCare Repair Mount Pleasant is located at 2304 South Mission Street and can be reached at: (989) 317-8591.  For more information and price inquiries, visit iCareRepair.com.

About iCare Repair  Founded in 2012, iCare Repair provides fast and effective repairs of mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, mp3 players, and laptops. Cracked screens, water damage, battery issues, camera issues, and many other problems can be repaired by iCare Repair’s team of certified technicians at its 12 locations in Michigan and Washington. For more information and franchising opportunities, visit iCareRepair.com.

Water-damaged smartphones are very popular repairs that we have been doing this summer. Some customers dropped their phone into the lake, some left it in their jeans’ pocket and got washed in the washing machine, and for the unfortunate ones, their phone fell into the toilet.

It is frustrating but the good news is you may not need to buy a new phone just yet. By following a few simple steps, you may be able to restore your phone after water damage. But if you don’t have the necessary tools to take apart your phone (or unsure how to put it back together), then it’s best to leave the job to a smartphone technician.

You’ve probably seen a lot of tutorials telling you to stuff your phone in a bag of dry rice and let it sit for 24 to 48 hours. This is not a smart way to dry your phone because rice is not very absorbent, and your phone’s headphone jack and charge port may end up with grains of rice!

The key is not to wait too long if you want to save your phone in working condition. Check out the 4 steps in our infographic below for a higher success rate of saving your phone and its data. (Note: If you can’t do Step 2 because you don’t have the tools or the know-how to open up your phone, bring it to any of our locations immediately to minimize any water damage.)

You’ve probably seen the popular Samsung commercial of Lil Wayne pouring champagne over his Galaxy S7 Edge phone just for kicks. That’s the Galaxy S7 series for you – water-resistant and tougher than any other phone out there, or so they say.

And the idea definitely worked. Besides looking attractively classy, the ‘water-resistant’ feature of the S7 series has become a major selling point for many Android fans.

But how has a funny commercial of a famous rapper really lined up with reality? As much as we wish that an unbreakable phone has already arrived, it is definitely not the case for the Galaxy S7.

Water Resistant vs Waterproof

These are two different terms. Water resistance suggests some level of vulnerability and incomplete coverage, while being waterproof implies complete protection. A waterproof material possesses specific waterproof properties.

The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge is only touted as water resistant, which means that there is only a tightly sealed barrier that protects the fragile circuits inside the device. Once the barrier breaks, the device is no longer water resistant.

In an instance where the S7 phone is taken for a small splash or a quick dip into fresh water, the device might not experience any problems due its adequate water-resistance rating. But if we change the scenario, it’s a different outcome. Chlorinated or salted water is bad news for the rubber gaskets and seals that protect the device from liquid intrusion. These can weaken as time passes, leaving your phone exposed to damage from moisture.

For Lil Wayne’s champagne treatment on his S7 Edge, the device may have been tested thoroughly to withstand this type of liquid. Thus, the phone still works under the foamy layer of bubbles. BUT don’t accept this as a general rule because not all liquids have been tested.

Water-resistance testing is done under lab conditions against a very specific list of criteria that may not work under real-life scenarios that users’ phones go through. That’s why manufacturers do not offer warranties for many liquid-based accident or scenario out there.

What is IP68 Rating?

IP stands for ‘Ingress Protection’, a rating system set forth by the International Electrotechnical Commission to inform users of how well protected a device is against foreign bodies.

The ‘6’ refers to the level of protection against dust, and 6 is a really good number. This means the S7 and S7 Edge are completely sealed against any sort of dust.

As for the ‘8’ in IP68, this refers to the level of protection against water. 8 is a really good number as well. The internals of the S7 can stay dry at 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

Can I take my Galaxy S7 swimming?

Having an IP68 rating doesn’t make the device waterproof. In the first place, our phones are not bath toys for a reason. But having a water-resistant feature gives the user peace of mind that even if you accidentally drop your phone in the pool, in the tub, or in a toilet, your phone is not going to die.

However, always remember the fine print. There’s always a fine print. If your S7 has been damaged or banged up, your phone might not be completely IP68 compliant anymore. And although the phone is not totally dead, the audio may get permanently muffled and distorted after drying off.

How do I protect my water-resistant phone from … water?

A water-resistant phone is not invincible, we’ve already learned that. But if liquid accidents are inevitable, here’s how you can prolong the lifespan of your device.

• Close all covers before dipping your phone into water. Check the SIM and microSD card slots, as well as the USB port cover.
• Rinse off your phone with fresh water to wash off the chlorinated water. Don’t use soap or chemicals.
• Avoid chlorinated or salt water and extreme environments.
• Dry your device thoroughly using a dry microfiber cloth.
• Don’t use it if there’s moisture to avoid frying the circuits.
• Don’t use a hair dryer to dry.
• Don’t use in a hot environment such as a sauna.
• Clean the covers and ports.